Friday, October 21, 2011

October Feel Bad For You: Instrumentals

Your monthly comp from your favorite musical delinquents, only this time, with a theme! Most people submitted instrumentals, but some people can't follow directions (I'll leave you to figure that one out). It's a pretty interesting comp this month - everything from country to hip-hop to metal to stoner rock. And I forgot the link to the stream, so if you want to stream the entire comp, go here. Otherwise, download here.

1. Chelsea Crowell - For Stormy.mp3Buy (mp3): Crystal City (2011)
Submitted By: Mando_linesComments: "For Stormy" is an instrumental track off of Chelsea Crowell’s record, Crystal City. The song originally had lyrics, but Ms. Crowell made the decision to jettison the lyrics and had her producer, Loney Hutchins, play lap steel in place of her vocal track. A Tennessee thunder storm (and tornado siren) are in the background, if you listen closely. Conveniently, the siren was in the same key as the song.

3. Los Straitjackets - Fortune CookieThe Further Adventures of Los Straitjackets (2009)
Submitted By: popa2unesComments: Everyone’s favorite Mexican wrestling mask-wearing, Chuck Taylor-clad, surf and garage instrumental rock band, we had these guys play at a traditional Hot Rod Show I was involved with a couple summers ago, they know how to have a good time and get everyone dancing.

4. The Royal Court of China - Townsend, TNThe Royal Court of China (1989)
Submitted by: toomuchcountryComments: The Royal Court of China was a Nashville-based, Elliston Place/Rock Block staple band in the late 1980s who later took a shot at the big time with a relo to LA. Bands such as The Questionnaires (featuring great songwriter Tom Littlefield), Government Cheese, Will & The Bushmen (fronted by Will Kimbrough), and RCC were among the second and larger wave of memorable bands that followed the original Nashville rockers, Jason & The Scorchers. The band got its name from a magazine interview with Jimmy Page and Paul Rodgers. In the interview, the two of them mentioned that they had rejected RCC as a name for their name and instead chose The Firm. RCC’s second album, Geared & Primed, was hard-edged and included their only hit – "Half The Truth" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4JNLthoQRU). But their first and self-titled release included a wider range of guitar playing, a mandolin, some slide to give it a distinctly-Nashville touch, a few more harmonies, and this instrumental named for one of the most beautiful, tranquil parts of East Tennessee.

6. Japancakes – Only Shallow Loveless (2007)
Submitted by: Corey FlegelComments: featuring pedal steel God John Neff of DBT before he was John Neff of DBT…always a badass.

7. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Drivin’ SouthRadio One (1989)
Submitted By: BoogieStudio22Comments: What else is there to say?

8. The Volebeats - Maggot BrainBloodshot Records: Making Singles, Drinking Doubles (2002)
Submitted By: TruersoundComments: in the pantheon of great rock instrumentals, Funkadelic’s "Maggot Brain" is certainly near the top. This is a killer version with some absolutely necessary steel guitar.

9. Willy Vlautin & Paul Brainard - A New LifeNorthline (Soundtrack To The Book) (2008)
Submitted By: SimonComments: Love Willie Vlautin’s writing for Richmond Fontaine and his books are equally fantastic – the book and soundtrack idea works wonderfully well.

10. Megadeth - Into the Lungs of Hell.mp3Buy: So Far, So Good...So What! (1988, reissued 2004)
Submitted By: GorrckComment: Having sent instrumentals the last 2 months, this actually was a challenge this month. Pulled up Glenn Miller’s “Goin’ Home” — way too mellow and sad. Fired up some Xavier Cugat and remembered I had a cover of Ray Charles doing “One Mint Julep”. Then I realized I submitted the Cugat in 2008. Dammit. So here’s some Megadeth. Enjoy!

11. Slithering Beast - Ghost SongWerewolf Ballads (2006)
Submitted By: bootlegendComments: One of my favorites from a criminally underexposed band out of Louisville.

12. Norman Blake - Arkansas TravelerLive at McCabes (1976)
Submitted By: BowoodComments: This could be why I play guitar, or it could be why I don’t.

15. The Queers - Squid Omelet.mp3Buy: Grow Up (1990)
Submitted By: annieTUFFComments: Ok, so when I think instrumental I automatically think surf music. And I LOVE surf music. Dick Dale and the Dale Tones, The Ventures, Frogmen, Sentinals, The Rumblers, Beach Boys (although honestly I don’t listen to them as much as the others I’ve mentioned). I could go on and on about surf music. BUT I wouldn’t have ever gotten started listening to surf music if it weren’t thru a weird backdoor way of getting exposed to it, thru punk. So, I decided to put up the song that got me started really listening to surf instead of one of the other surf bands I mentioned. The Queers are a great band that are pretty heavily influenced by surf music, and you can really hear it in their songs, I love them. Although I had heard surf before I didn’t really appreciate it until after getting into punk. Confused now? Me too. By the way, this song ends kind of abruptly, because it’s supposed to lead right into the next track…so this might not really be the greatest pick for a random mixtape….but I’m telling a story with this song, so, suck it.

16. Mark III Trio - Good Grease
Single (Unknown)
Submitted By: mikeorrenComments: Off a great bootleg instrumental soul compilation that sadly seems to be unavailable on now. The comp disc was called “Bucket o’ Grease”

20. Earth - Peace in Mississippi (Jimi Hendrix cover)Pentastar: In the Style of Demons (1996)
Submitted by: TheSecondSingleComment: Stoner rock at its best. This may not be most people’s cup o’ tea, but you have to admit: it’s pretty badass.

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